[Ted T]

I tap while hammering!
I do tap the anvil during the forging process, although I do not tap the anvil much other than that. When I was young boy I was reprimanded severely for tapping on an anvil.
As I got older, I realized the guy was a very good blacksmith, but I also realized that he was full of his self and was over reacting to his own personal superstitions. What I had done that day was not wrong or out of line, but the early training seemed to stick with me for my lifetime!
To me, rhythmic tapping on the anvil while I am forging seems to keep the energy and motion of my body fluid with the work I am forming during each heat.
I was taught to view each heat as though it was a separate and a timed event, and to take full advantage of each heat in a very aggressive way.
I was expected to forge each piece with as few heats as possible while giving my full attention (focus) to the forging process as though I was in a fight for my life.
When I first started as a young boy, I notice the old blacksmiths who first taught me the forging process, tapped the anvil while forging. So I tried my best to imitate what they did.
Over a period of time, I found tapping the anvil while I was examining and evaluating the piece for shape and determining my next angle of attack seemed to help me keep more focused.
I believe that every second you have a piece out of the forge fire can work for you or it can work against you. It all depends on how effective you use your time while you still have forging heat available in your piece.
I was also taught to practice my movement, know the location of my tools, and to do dry runs while the steel was cold!
I believe the bottom line is that what ever seems to help you focus on using your time wisely is fair game!
No matter how I try to justify or figure out why I tap, it is a habit with me!
Be Safe!
Old Rusty Ted